What is Your Legacy?

If you were to die today, what would you be remembered for; what would be your legacy? Would it be kindness, philanthropy, compassion and generosity? Or perhaps apathy, insolence, ineptitude and anger? No matter who we are and what we do in this life, we all leave behind a legacy, intended or not. This is the 35th anniversary of my father-in-law’s passing, a man who followed his dream, pursued his passion and as a result touched the hearts of millions during his lifetime. And while the Internet and social media have made it much easier to go “viral” and find your 15 minutes of fame, lifetime legacies rarely happen overnight and usually take literally a lifetime to create.

Very few of us will change the world however; every one of us can help effect change within our own worlds. We all have a sphere of influence we interact within and it is there where our legacy will reside. We create it with each thought, each action and each interaction with others. Fortunately for most of us, our legacy isn’t created in one day or through one stupendous mistake, but over a lifetime of consistent actions. For some, their legacy will be their name adorning a university (Stanford), a company (Ford) or maybe even a comet (Haley’s) or telescope (Hubble). But for most of us, our legacy will reside within the hearts and minds of those we touch through our actions and interactions. Our families, friends, neighbors, co-workers and others. So what are you doing right now, today, this week and this year to create your legacy? What will you be remembered for when you have moved on to whatever lies beyond this life we know?